Tigers

Diet & Eating Habits

Diet

Tigers eat a variety of prey ranging in size from termites to elephant calves. However, an integral component of their diet are large-bodied prey weighing about 20 kg (45 lb) or larger such as moose, deer species, pigs, cows, horses, buffalos and goats. Occasionally they may consume tapirs, elephant and rhinoceros calves, bear species, leopards and Asiatic wild dogs.

A Bengal tiger finishing a meal.

Method of Feeding

Tigers mainly rely on their sense of sight and hearing rather than on smell when hunting prey. They cautiously stalk their prey from the rear in attempt to get as close as possible to their unsuspecting prey. Then they attempt to take down their prey with a powerful bite to the neck and/ or throat.

Tigers cautiously stalk prey from the rear, getting
as close as possible to unsuspecting prey.

Tigers may consume up to 40 kg (88 pounds) of meat at one time.

It is estimated that every tiger consumes about 50 deer-sized animals each year, about one per week.